Robert Macgregor GILLESPIE
Robert Gillespie was born on 31 January 1891 at Wando, Charnwood Road,St. Kilda. His parents were James Macgregor and Rose (née Trangmar) Gillespie. He attended Scotch from 1906 to 1910. He was a member of Cadets.
Robert was an agricultural scientist when he enlisted on 17 August 1914 at Melbourne. He served in the 6th Battalion with the rank of Sergeant. His Regimental Number was 46.
Robert died on 25 April 1915 at Gallipoli. He was 24 years of age.
Service record
Robert Gillespie had been an outstanding pre-war sportsman: a University Blue in tennis and rowing, and he represented Victoria in tennis in 1912 and 1913. He had also been in the Melbourne University Rifles, and entered the 6th Battalion as a sergeant.
Robert was initially reported missing on 25 April. His battalion was in the second wave. A letter in the 1915 Scotch Collegian gave the following update from an unknown soldier: ‘Lance-Corporal J. B. Hacking, of 6th Batt, told me that on the day of the landing, Gillespie, Hacking and Private Swift were covering the advance of a firing line. Gillespie first went ahead 50 yards, and whistled if all appeared clear, after which the other two came up level with him, but about 30 yards on his right and left. The whole thing was carried out under heavy fire and at very close quarters, about 30 to 50 yards. For two or three times all went well, but at last Gillespie went forward, and did not whistle, nor could his two men find him in the thick scrub. No one seems to have seen him since. He may have been captured.’ The danger of the location was apparent in that enemy fire killed Swift as he and Hacking sought to move back. In short, Gillespie typified the aggressive spirit that gained some ground but at a terrible price on the day of the landing.
He was pronounced ‘Killed in Action’ by a Court of Enquiry in April 1916. Early in 1920 his body was found in an isolated grave at Phillips’ Top, Gallipoli, about 450 yards south of Anzac Cove. He may have been buried there during an armistice (ceasefire) on 21 May 1915.
Robert Gillespie is buried in the Lone Pine Cemetery (Plot III, Row C, Grave No. 2), Gallipoli, Turkey.
Photographs and Documents:
Scotch College Cadet Corps officers and NCOs 1908. On Gillespie’s right are H.P. Brownell and A.R. Vines who were both wounded at Gallipoli. Six of the 9 boys in Gillespie's row served at Gallipoli.
Sources:
